Sometimes the most profound wisdom comes from people who have walked through the proverbial fire and come out the other side to talk about it. A young woman named McKenna (AKA Cowboy Kenna on social media) is one such human who goes out of her way, quite often, to remind people that kindness still exists. That all people, despite whatever they've been through, are deserving of love.In one TikTok clip, she relays that she's not going to let the world define her. Instead she's going to take her own experiences and churn them into advice for others looking to live their best (and kindest) lives.She begins with the simple notion: “I just wanted to say that…words matter. Whether good or bad, people are probably gonna remember what you said to them. Like I remember in elementary school, people would tell me my nose was too small for my face. Or just too small in general. Or I remember in sixth grade camp, somebody told me not to jump on the bed like the other girls because I'd break it. I remember my mom telling me that I shouldn't wear striped shirts because it's unflattering for a bigger person.” @cowboykenna Words matter. Kindness matters. #beagoodhuman #kindnessmatters She continues, “But on the other hand, I remember walking into the Apple Store and some lady told me that I was a ‘breath of fresh air.’ And I remember there was an older woman in the Walmart checkout line and she told me that my smile ‘made her day.’ And then the next day, somebody said the same exact thing.So words matter. Whether you think so or not. Sometimes people will remember that for the rest of their lives.”In another clip on Instagram, she begins by saying, “You guys know that saying that sometimes hurt people hurt people. Well, I think most of the time it can be true. But there's a few of us that have been hurt time and time again. I think we dedicate our lives to trying to make sure that no one else felt the way we felt.” See on Instagram “And sometimes I get it. You know, once you're filled with so much negativity, and somebody else instills all that darkness and hatred and everything into you, it can be hard to see a brighter light. But this is just your sign that you're not what somebody else said to you or you're not what somebody else made you into.You can change for the better. And sometimes hurt people don't hurt people. Sometimes we spend our lives doing the good stuff! And trying to make the world into a better place. So maybe helped people help people?Let's see about that. Stay good. Do good. Be a good person. I love ya.”Once again, there are clearly people who needed to hear this message. One person writes on Instagram, “Just dropping beautiful knowledge my friend!! You are changing the world in the best way! Keep being you!” @cowboykenna I think you guys know it too. #lovewinsall Upworthy had a chance to chat with McKenna about her life and inspiration for making these uplifting messages.What inspired you to start making these videos?“I started posting in July of this year, after I quit going to therapy! I wanted to challenge myself and my anxiety and do something out of my comfort zone or that scared me which is speaking or having that fear of judgment from others! I went with a 'throw myself into the deep end' approach haha! I didn’t have any ‘conventional’ talents other than empathy.”Tell us a little about your background and some things you're passionate about?“I grew up in Addison, Michigan, and still live here today. Went to Addison schools, I was homecoming queen my senior year so I would say I was well liked I suppose. I have always been passionate about helping others or being able to feel what others were feeling or the art of noticing. I love women’s basketball and Detroit football and going fishing.”If you could tell the 9-year-old version of yourself something, particularly if/when you were going through a rough patch, what would you say?“I would tell myself the story about ‘keeping your fork.’ It’s a story I’ve heard online about someone’s family member telling them to keep their fork from dinner for dessert afterwards at a restaurant. ‘Keep your fork, the best is yet to come.’” See on Instagram

It’s hard to believe there was a time when Dwayne Johnson was known only as “The Rock,” one of the biggest stars in WWE history. But all of that changed in 2001 when he was cast as the Scorpion King in the opening sequence of The Mummy Returns, a sequel to the 1999 blockbuster starring Rachel Weisz and Brendan Fraser.The Mummy Returns led Johnson to star in The Scorpion King (2002), and he’d rise to be one of the most bankable actors in Hollywood. Johnson had the opportunity to thank Fraser personally for his success in a recent installment of CNN and Variety’s co-produced Actors on Actors. The Mummy Returns kicked off Dwayne Johnson’s film career"[The Mummy] was one of the biggest franchises in the world at that time, in our industry, beloved around the world, and you were the face of that franchise,” Johnson told Fraser. “The flowers I want to give you is, I was ready to make my transition into Hollywood, and I was excited, and I had this opportunity to be cast in your movie as the Scorpion King. I remember meeting with Steven Summers, our director, and I met with all the folks at Universal, and I was so excited, but I knew, because they told me, 'You know, we're just going to talk to Brendan first.'"Casting Johnson, then known as The Rock, in the role was a significant risk for the production. If his acting was flat or people couldn’t shake his wrestling persona, it would have really dragged the production down. But Fraser thought it was a great idea to roll the dice.Johnson was shocked that Fraser wanted to take a risk on casting him"This is a beloved franchise; it felt like Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the word that I got back was, 'Brenden loves the idea. He welcomes you with open arms.' It really meant something to me, because not only was it your franchise, and you took a shot and a risk with me, who'd never acted back then, but also, that kicked off my career,” Johnson continued.Fraser appears to well up as he gracefully accepted Johnson’s gratitude. "You're too kind, Dwayne. You were always the right guy for the job,” Fraser responded. The funny thing was that Fraser wasn’t familiar with wrestling and didn’t know much about Johnson. “When I was shown, I said, 'That is perfect. That is inspired casting. That's fantastic. We'd be lucky to get the guy. Wow,’" he continued.The rest is ancient Egyptian history. - YouTube youtu.be Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are going to return to the desert once again in a yet untitled fourth film in The Mummy franchise. The film is believed to follow the events of The Mummy Returns and ignore the 2008 flop, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. No other cast members from the previous films have been announced, but there are rumors that Johnson may be considering a return to the franchise.

There are *so many* settings and laundry cycles to choose from on a washing machine. But washing laundry on a specific cycle can help preserve your clothes and extend their life.According to a study funded by Procter & Gamble, scientists in the United Kingdom found the exact laundry cycle that makes clothes last longer. Washing your clothes on a cold, short cycle is key. Specifically, using a 25-degree Celsius (77-degree Fahrenheit) wash for about 30 minutes is considered optimal.Scientists discovered that clothes washed on this colder, shorter cycle, compared to those washed at 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for 85 minutes, lost significantly less color from their microfibers and also transferred less dye to other garments in the wash. Washing clothes on a cold, short cycle can help extend their life.Photo credit: CanvaAnother plus: washing clothes at a colder temperature also saves energy. The study noted that "washing clothing at 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) rather than 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) saves approximately 40% of the energy used per load, and washing at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) instead of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) saves approximately 66% of the energy used per load."6 laundry tips to make your clothes last longerBesides washing your clothes on a cold, short cycle, here are six other ways to extend their lifespan:1. Use a mesh laundry bagProtect your clothes, especially delicates, by using a mesh laundry bag."When washing delicate items such as lingerie, socks, etc., place them in mesh laundry bags to keep them from getting tangled or stretched out while being washed," Martha Gonzalez, cleaning expert and owner of Austin Cleaning Service, told Upworthy. "The mesh bag will also prevent those items from becoming stuck under the washing machine's agitator when they are being washed. These actions alone will greatly reduce the wear and tear on the items you are washing, and as a result, will allow you to enjoy wearing those items for much longer."2. Wash clothes inside outBefore you throw your clothes in the washer, turn them inside out."Washing clothes inside out will help protect the outer layer of fabric, keep any labels or logos intact, reduce fading, and prevent pilling on the outside of the clothes," said Olivia Parks, owner and lead organizer at Professional Organizer New Orleans. "It's a simple tip, but it really keeps clothes looking newer for much longer."3. Hang dry your clothesSkipping the dryer can also help your clothes last longer."Whenever possible, hang your clothes to dry (air dry) instead of putting them in a dryer," said Gonzalez. "Tumbling your clothes in the dryer causes friction between the clothes and the dryer drum, and heat both of which can cause the fibers in the clothes to break down, resulting in faded colors and frayed edges over time. One of the best things you can do to take care of your clothes, especially synthetic and stretchy clothing and items that have a 'lay flat' tag, is to air dry your clothes. Air drying your clothes will help them maintain their original shape and vibrant colors for years to come." Hang dry clothes.Photo credit: Canva4. Avoid overloading the washing machineOverstuffing your washer can actually damage your clothes. "When the washing machine is packed too full, clothes can't move freely, and aren't getting properly cleaned," Parks added. "Washing smaller loads will help clothes maintain their shape and prevent you from having to wash them over again, which wastes water and laundry detergent."5. Use the right amount of detergentIt's easy to put a little too much (or too little) detergent in the washer, but it's important to follow the instructions on the detergent bottle."Using too much detergent will leave a sticky residue on clothes that actually attracts dirt and makes fabrics look full," Parks explained. "Using too little detergent means clothes aren't fully washed and cleaned. Measuring the correct amount of detergent will help clothes stay soft, clean, and long-lasting."6. Wash similar fabrics togetherPay attention to the material of the clothes you wash together."Heavier items like towels and jeans can be rough on lighter, thinner clothes like blouses, t-shirts, and other delicate fabrics," Parks said. "Washing similar fabrics together is more gentle and helps keep your lighter items in better shape longer."

Government subsidies aren’t a new concept. The U.S. government and other nations put subsidies in place to help financially bolster their agriculture, energy, and healthcare sectors. But India’s government is experimenting with another subsidy: homemaking.In 12 states, 118 million people in India are receiving unconditional cash transfers from the government, making it one of the largest social policy experiments regarding both wages for stay-at-home parents and universal basic income as a whole. These payments are given to women simply because they traditionally maintain the households in the country and are responsible for hours of childcare, laundry, maintenance, and several other duties in the culture. A 2024 study found that Indian women did ten times more household duties than the men, and a 2025 study found they spent 7.6 times more time on such duties than their male counterparts. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sarthak Ahuja (@casarthakahuja)There are caveats and eligibility requirements, however. Indian residents who are government employees, own a car, or own large plots of land wouldn’t qualify, among other boundaries. Those eligible only get paid up to $30 per month, which isn’t nothing but doesn’t equate to an actual wage. The payments are typically spent on household expenses and medicine. Critics of this experiment are calling it “vote buying” as promising a wage or salary to housewives for their unpaid labor could encourage homemakers to vote for the candidates pushing for it.Regardless of intention, the movement and idea to pay stay-at-home mothers and homemakers has been a topic of discussion worldwide. Many countries offer generous paid family leave for new parents, but that typically tapers off when the child reaches a certain age. In terms of the United States, by combining the typical hourly rates and salaries of the duties of a chauffeur, daycare worker, cook, and personal assistant, a stay-at-home parent’s salary would be close to the $200,000 per year range according to Salary.com, Investopedia, and SaveMyCents.com. @calltoleap Are you a stay-at-home parent? Ever wonder how much you'd earn if you got paid full-time for everything you do — from childcare to cooking to cleaning? The value is way more than most people think. ? Let me break it down for you — and trust me, your work is priceless. Do you agree with this data? Let me know in the comments and share your experience! - Steve If you’re ready to start investing this year, don’t miss my next Beginner’s Investing Masterclass! Sign up now — link in bio! Follow @calltoleap Follow @calltoleap for investing videos Follow me @calltoleap to start your journey toward financial freedom! #StayAtHomeParent #FinancialValue #SmartMoneyMoves #BuildWealth #CallToLeap So should we pay stay-at-home parents and homemakers or just implement a universal basic income for everyone in general? Well, that’s up for debate. Aside from paying homemakers and other ongoing experiments over the past decade, some writers trace the concept of universal basic income (UBI) back to ancient Greece. In terms of the modern day, there are several recent experiments worldwide that yielded positive results. However, each experiment had different factors to deal with: different amounts of people being paid, different wage amounts, different living areas and economic stability, and other factors that have made UBI ripe for further research. @caitlynbickel Sometimes we can get so caught up by what we see on this app. I hope to show we arent as alone as we think we are. ❤️❤️ #dailyvlog #dailyroutine #sahm #sahmsoftiktok #sahmomsbelike #middleclass #financialfreedom #dayinmylife #nonaestheticmom #noneasthetic #momlife #realisticmomlife #toddlermom #motherhoodunplugged Critics of UBI are concerned about why the taxing-paying workforce also need to contribute to the taxes needed to fund a universal payment system. They are also concerned with the lack of guardrails or means-based eligibility requirements because, unless there are such things in place, wealthy people would get a paycheck they don't need while everyone pays extra taxes for the program.So should homemakers be compensated by the government for their unpaid labor? The jury is out. However, for India, the question is worth exploring.

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Jeffrey Epstein files reveal a woman named Kathy Ruemmler was one of the people who had the most communication with Epstein Over 100 emails and more than 50 meetings in just 5 years after he was a convicted sex offender She was White House counsel to Barack Obama pic.twitter.com/zjTrnuCuZo — Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) December […]

An image from 2019 has reappeared, capturing Erika Kirk, wife of the recently murdered Charlie Kirk, alongside Yair Netanyahu in Israel. pic.twitter.com/hZZO4mmlnt — Ounka (@OunkaOnX) December 11, 2025

by Matt Margolis, PJ Media: Karoline Leavitt was on fire Thursday. She first faced CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, who tried to challenge her on the economy. Leavitt praised Trump for getting the country “out of the economic hole that the previous administration put us in.” Collins jumped in with the usual grocery-price argument: “That’s not where […]